The LORD's Promise to Israel441People of Israel,I have chosen youas my servant.2I am your Creator.You were in my careeven before you were born.Israel, don't be terrified!You are my chosen servant,my very favorite.[S]my very favorite: Or “Jeshurun.”3I will bless the thirsty landby sending streams of water;I will bless your descendantsby giving them my Spirit.4They will spring up like grass[T]like grass: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.or like willow treesnear flowing streams.5They will worship meand become my people.They will write my nameon the back of their hands.[U]write … hands: To show that they belong to the LORD and to Israel.6 I am the LORD All-Powerful,the first and the last,the one and only God.Israel, I have rescued you!I am your King.7Can anyone compare with me?If so, let them speak upand tell me now.Let them say what has happenedsince I made my nationlong ago,and let them tellwhat is going to happen.[V]Let them say … happen: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.8Don't tremble with fear!Didn't I tell you long ago?Didn't you hear me?I alone am God—no one else is a mighty rock.[W]mighty rock: See the note at 17.10.Idols Can't Do a ThingThe LORD said:9Those people who make idolsare nothing themselves,and the idols they treasureare just as worthless.Worshipers of idols are blind,stupid, and foolish.10Why make an idol or an imagethat can't do a thing?11Everyone who makes idolsand all who worship themare mere humans,who will end upsadly disappointed.Let them face me in courtand be terrified.Idols and Firewood12A metalworker shapes an idolby using a hammer[X]by using a hammer: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.and heat from the fire.In his powerful handhe holds a hammer,as he pounds the metalinto the proper shape.But he gets hungry and thirstyand loses his strength.13Some woodcarver measuresa piece of wood,then draws an outline.The idol is carefully carvedwith each detail exact.At last it looks like a personand is placed in a temple.14Either cedar, cypress, oak,or any tree from the forestmay be chosen.Or even a pine tree plantedby the woodcarverand watered by the rain.15 Some of the wood is usedto make a fire for heatingor for cooking.One piece is made into an idol,then the woodcarver bows downand worships it.16He enjoys the warm fireand the meat that was roastedover the burning coals.17Afterwards, he bows downto worship the wooden idol.“Protect me!” he says.“You are my god.”18Those who worship idols are stupid and blind! 19They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, “I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?”20How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes?[Y]How … ashes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods?The LORD Won't Forget His People21People of Israel,you are my servant,so remember all of this.Israel, I created you,and you are my servant.I won't forget you.[Z]I won't forget you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.22Turn back to me!I have rescued youand swept away your sinsas though they were clouds.Sing Praises to the LORD23Tell the heavens and the earthto start singing!Tell the mountainsand every tree in the forestto join in the song!The LORD has rescued his people;now they will worship him.The LORD Created Everything24Israel, I am your LORD,the source of your life,and I have rescued you.I created everythingfrom the sky aboveto the earth below.25 I make liars of false prophetsand fools of fortunetellers.I take human wisdomand turn it into nonsense.26I will make the messageof my prophets come true.They are saying, “Jerusalemwill be filled with people,and the LORD will rebuildthe towns of Judah.”27I am the one who commandsthe sea and its streamsto run dry.28 I am also the one who says,“Cyrus will lead my peopleand obey my orders.Jerusalem and the templewill be rebuilt.”